Who is Dara?

Dara Kahkonen is all about music. Whether it is classical, jazz, kids with sticks and buckets, or dancing the Lindy Hop, you can bet she is in her element. In fact, she is probably tapping her feet while working on this website.

Coming from a very musical family in the Pittsburgh area with a father who performed jazz all over town, a mother that was a dancer in a folk-dance troupe, and in which all of her four siblings played more than one instrument, music was her origin story.

Her first musical love, which still continues to this day, was the flute, which she picked up at a young age. By the time high school rolled around, she had played with numerous district and regional bands, was the drum major for the high school marching band, taught music and movement to other area bands, and continued to live and breathe music.

Dara’s collegiate studies in music education at Ithaca College gave her an intimate knowledge of music theory, style, and performance. While in college, she became the director of the instrumental music program at All Saints Academy in Corning, NY, which thrived under her enthusiastic leadership. This led her to teaching private piano, flute, and trumpet lessons at a prestigious Music Academy in New York City.

Dara’s love of music, and her high energy, charismatic, and creative style are a true joy to experience. Her ability to inspire young minds through music is a God-given gifting that she has shared with hundreds of children over the past decade through a program she created and led at Rainbowland Preschool in Western Pennsylvania. Her program there was sought after by families, with most parents sending multiple waves of siblings through the program.

It is difficult to wrap Dara up in a paragraph because she is always moving. Her singular style puts a smile on those around her, and she quickly becomes every student’s favorite. Her new endeavor with Music Bird Studios is not a new undertaking, just a new name, a new location, and another way to share her gifts. Her passion and love of music are worth experiencing first hand, and we hope you will see for yourself!